<p>I'm a freshman in HS, and I'm really confused about the SAT subject tests!</p>
<p>Like...What are the Math 1/ Math 2 and the Biology SAT subject tests? When am I supposed to take them? And for the Math tests, do the "1" and the "2" coincide with the classes Math1 and Math2?</p>
<p>Usually it is suggested that you take SAT subject tests in the spring of the year that you will take the most advanced course in that subject. For example, if you take a Biology class as a sophomore and have no plans to do AP, you should take the SATII test that year. However, if you plan to take AP Biology or another advanced biology course at your school your junior or senior year, you should probably wait to take that test.</p>
<p>Math I is “a broad survey test intended for students who have taken three years of college-preparatory mathematics, including two years of algebra and one year of geometry.” - Collegeboard
while Math II is “Mathematics Level 2 is a broad survey test intended for students who have taken college-preparatory mathematics for more than three years, including two years of algebra, one year of geometry, and elementary functions (precalculus) and/or trigonometry.”
Basically, MathII includes precal and trig concepts while Math I does not.</p>
<p>Just expanding on what splendiferous said:</p>
<p>2 (or even 3 for schools like Harvard) subject tests, aka SAT IIs, are needed for certain top colleges (including UCs and highly-ranked private schools) but are weighed somewhat lightly compared to the original SAT and grade point average rank.
I suggest taking the two (assuming you’re applying to top colleges–if it’s a state university I doubt you’ll even need to take the subject tests) that you are most interested in or that will correlate to your planned major the most.
Most people take them junior year, maybe sophomore, some even senior during fall right before college applications. If you are planning on taking AP/IB courses, it’s a good idea to plan to take the corresponding subject test in June of that year. (The subject tests are offered in US History, World History, Literature, Chemistry, Physics, Math I and II, Biology E and M–M is for molecular, or cell biology and E is for ecological, like with populations/ecosystems, and a ton of foreign languages that I recommend you be in your third year of study or even fluent to take.)
Also, I’ve heard Math II has a better curve (the score is from a range of 200 to 800, with the average for most tests being around 600) than Math I.</p>
<p>^ Harvard only requires 2. Georgetown is the only school that requires 3.</p>
<p>yes, I’ve seen on Harvard website that they want 2 SAT II, but I knew that they wanted 3, they have changed something…</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/891064-harvard-now-requires-only-two-subject-tests.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/891064-harvard-now-requires-only-two-subject-tests.html</a></p>
<p>I think it’s okay you’re still a bit confused about subject tests, I honestly didn’t know about them until sophomore and I considered myself an overachiever. (oh how my view has changed since I discovered this site…) </p>
<p>Subject tests are just additional standardized tests aside from the SAT/ACT. I don’t know that every school requires them, but I believe most schools do. There are many other tests besides Math and Biology, such as Literature or U.S. History. It’s recommended to take them after you’ve completed a year or more of classes in the corresponding subject area, (i.e. take Biology in the May/June at the end of the year you are taking the course.) </p>
<p>I can’t be sure that Math I and II correspond to your high school’s Math I class. In the posts above, as well as on College Board and other sites, you can find out what material is covered on each of these exams. Math I covers less material, but I’ve heard is more in-depth and has a harsher curve. Math II covers more material (up to Pre-Calculus) but has a much more lenient curve.</p>
<p>Haha! 
THANKS, YOU GUYS!!! You guys are awesome!!!
Your answers really cleared everything up! :D</p>
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</p>
<p>Most schools do not. Most top schools, though, do.</p>
<p>Do you have to send all the score of subject tests? Say if you take tests in four subjects, can you choose to send only two sujeccts that you score best? I am assuming score choice is not allowed.</p>
<p>If Score Choice is not allowed at all, then you have to send all scores for the Subject Tests if you send any. However, some schools that say that Score Choice is not allowed for the SAT do not make it clear whether this carries to Subject Tests as well. Yale, at least, has said that their rule also applies to Subject Tests.</p>
<p>Thank you, Silverturtle. To make sure I understand you right, if you take math, lit, history, and chem, each once, can you choose to send just history and chem or do you need to send all 4?</p>
<p>If a school says that Score Choice is not allowed even for Subject Tests, you will have to send all scores for every one of them. Most schools’ Web sites, however, are unclear about this, so it is best to contact them.</p>
<p>Thank you again. What is the best way to contact the school? email? I find top tier schools rather vague in their requirement.</p>
<p>Emailing an admissions representative is usually a good way.</p>